Director David Godon Green, on the set of 'Pineapple Express,' which opens Wednesday (Aug. 6).

When you think Judd-Apatow-produced comedies, one name that doesn't exactly spring to mind as a director is indie darling and part-time local resident David Gordon Green.

After all, Green's spent the better part of his career carving out a niche for himself as a Serious Director, as a ponderer, an auteur.

But he's also a guy who likes to stretch his boundaries, which explains his involvement with the big-budget, big-studio action-comedy "The Pineapple Express, " debuting Wednesday in theaters nationwide.

Seth Rogen, left, James Franco, Judd Apatow, David Gordon Green, Shauna Robertson and Evan Goldberg on the set of 'Pineapple Express.'

It's a surprisingly violent comedy that stars frequent Apatow collaborators Seth Rogen ("Knocked Up") and James Franco ("Spider-Man") as a pair of potheads who find themselves on the lam after Rogen witnesses a murder. It comes on the heels of the April release of Green's heart-wrenching drama "Snow Angels."

During a chat in April, Green -- calling from his Uptown home to promote "Snow Angels" -- said his decision to tackle "Pineapple Express" came from a desire for a change of pace.

"It's another intentional transition, just to be able to get out there and try something new, and make people laugh, " he said.

"Actually, a buddy of mine saw 'Snow Angels' in Charlotte last week and said, 'I loved the movie but it made me want to go smoke a joint. And I was like, 'Well, I guess that's where the next movie comes in, ' " he said, laughing.

"It was about a breath of fresh air for me, being able to exercise comedic chops."